disarm

1 of 2

verb

dis·​arm dis-ˈärm 

diz-, 

ˈdis-ˌärm

disarmed; disarming; disarms

transitive verb

1

a

: to deprive of means, reason, or disposition to be hostile

disarmed criticism by admitting her errors

b

: to win over

2

a

: to divest of arms

disarm captured troops

b

: to deprive of a means of attack or defense

disarm a ship

c

: to make harmless

disarm a bomb

intransitive verb

1

: to lay aside arms

2

: to give up or reduce armed forces

disarmament

ˌdis-ˈär-mə-mənt 

noun

disarmer noun

disarmer

2 of 2

noun

dis·​arm·​er

¦disˈärmər

: a person who favors disarmament

a nuclear disarmer

Synonyms of disarm

Verb

• demilitarize
• demobilize

Examples of disarm in a Sentence

Verb

The government has been unsuccessful at disarming the rebels.

The terrorists have refused to disarm.

It took more than an hour to disarm the bomb.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

An opposition win would not weaken Israel’s determination to work with Lebanon’s government to disarm Hezbollah. — Ian Bremmer, Time, 14 July 2026

Yet the franchise, for all its mayhem, didn’t run on belligerence, or at least channelled its aggression in a disarming way. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

The deal envisions peaceful relations between the two states and lays out a road map to disarm the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, secure Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanon and restore Lebanese sovereignty over its entire national territory. — Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026

Israel says major rehabilitation efforts won’t begin until Hamas is disarmed, and says construction equipment is dual-use and can serve military purposes. — Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English desarmen, literally, to divest of arms, from Anglo-French desarmer, from des- dis- + armer to arm

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for disarm

• alarm
• forearm
• gendarme
• nonfarm
• rearm
• arm
• charm
• farm
• harm
• firearm
• underarm

Kids Definition

disarm

verb

dis·​arm (ˈ)dis-ˈärm 

1

: to take weapons from

disarm a prisoner

2

: to reduce the size and strength of the armed forces of a country

3

: to make harmless, peaceable, or friendly : remove dislike or suspicion

a disarming smile

disarmament

-ˈär-mə-mənt 

noun